Jack Richeson

About the Artist

Tony Pro was born in Northridge, CA in 1973. He grew up in Southern California around artists such as his father, Julio (1929- ), who was an up and coming artist in the southwest art community. Being the youngest of 4 children, Pro was taken all around the country to some of the countries biggest art shows where he met legends like Jim Bama and Frank McCarthy. As a child, he also visited many studios of famous deceased artists such as E. Irving Couse and Nicolai Fechin.

Pro received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design from California State University, Northridge and at the same time attended California Art Institute where he studied with famed illustrator, Glenn Orbik. There he learned the value of academic figure and head drawing and how to apply strict study principles to his craft and, largely, trained himself to paint.

Pro's influences are the likes of John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn, Joaquin Sorolla and Philip Alexius de Laszlo. The French Naturalist artists like Emille Friant, Dagnan Bouveret and Jules-Bastien Lepage also play a large influence in Pro's style of painting.

In 2005, Pro was awarded the highly coveted Best of Show award at the 14th Annual Oil Painters of America Show, given by juror, Daniel Gerhartz. That year Pro, also, was one of the TOP 10 finalists of the Portrait Society of America Show in Washington D.C. Also that year, Pro's painting "Mothers Love" was featured on the cover of Southwest Art Magazine, as well as a feature article.

Pro is a guest member of Richard Schmid's Putney Painters and is currently privately teaching master classes in painting. In 2007, Pro started his production company with the production of Jeremy Lipking's first demonstration DVD, The Portrait Sketch and in January 2010 released his own Portrait Sketch DVD.

Pro is a Signature Member of the California Art Club.

Currently, he lives in Westlake Village with his wife, Elizabeth and 2 children, Ian and William.

EXHIBITION/AWARDS LIST

ART OF THE PORTRAIT
PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF AMERICA
TOP 10 FINALIST
--- HONORS AWARD RECIPIENT---
Hyatt Regency Reston, Washignton D.C.
May 2009

THE CALIFORNIA ART CLUB
98th ANNUAL GOLD MEDAL EXHIBITION
April 2009
Pasadena Museum of California Art

AMERICAN ART IN MINIATURE
Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma
November 2008

THE CALIFORNIA ART CLUB
97th ANNUAL GOLD MEDAL EXHIBITION
April 26 - May 20, 2008
Pasadena Museum of California Art

AMERICAN ART IN MINIATURE
Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma
November 2007

THE CALIFORNIA ART CLUB
96th ANNUAL GOLD MEDAL EXHIBITION
April 29 - May 20, 2007
Pasadena Museum of California Art

AMERICAN ART IN MINIATURE
Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma
October 21-November 5

2006 ART OF THE PORTRAIT
PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF AMERICA
--- AWARD OF EXCEPTIONAL MERIT RECIPIENT---
Dallas, Texas
May, 2006

OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA 15th ANNUAL
NATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION OF TRADITIONAL OILS
--- SCOTT A MATLIN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE RECIPIENT---
Dana Gallery, Missoula, Montana
May 5 - June 13, 2006

Salon International 2006
---JURY'S TOP 50 AWARD---
Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX
Exhibit Opening & Open House - May 20, 2006

The Artist's Magazine Competition
---AWARDED SECOND PLACE---
Portrait category
2005

ART OF THE PORTRAIT
PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF AMERICA
TOP 10 FINALIST
--- HONORS AWARD RECIPIENT---
Hyatt Regency Reston, Washignton D.C.
May 12th-15th, 2005

OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA 14th ANNUAL
NATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION OF TRADITIONAL OILS
--- AWARDED 'BEST OF SHOW' ----
Hilligoss Galleries, Chicago, Illinois
May 5th-June 19th, 2005

SALON INTERNATIONAL 2005
Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
May 7th, 2005

ACADEMIC ARTISTS ASSOCIATION
55th NATIONAL EXHIBITION OF CONTEMPORARY
REALISM IN ART
Springfield, Massachusetts
April 17-May 6, 2005

INTERNATIONAL GUILD OF REALISM SHOW
Pan American Gallery, Dallas, Texas
March 11- April 21, 2005

OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA WESTERN REGION SHOW
Oct. 1, 2004

ARTS FOR THE PARKS, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
--- SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS PARK PURCHASE AWARD ----
TOP 100 Selection
September 2004

PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF ATLANTA FALL EXHIBITION
FIRST PLACE AWARD for "The Editor"
Atlanta, Georgia
August 14, 2004

website: www.tonypro-fineart.com